Lined reactor



Aprll 7, 1953 H. J. NEBECK .LINED REAc'roR Filed oct. s1. 1951 5, v v. K .5 C E 9 2 WR. R wf dsx O N 2 T www.. .G G. m u. l R e M 1.. m v... B

O, 5 M l ATTORNEYSI Patented pr. 7, 1953 LINED REACTOR Howard J. Nebeck, Berwyn, Ill., assigner to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, Ill.,

corporation of Delaware Application October 31, 1951, Serial No. 254,127

4 Claims. (C1. 23288) The presentl invention relates to an improved form of a lined reactor and more particularly to an internally insulated and lined reactor adapted to hold a fixed bed of subdivided catalyst or contacting material in a manner permitting radial iioW of the reactant stream therethrough under high pressure and high temperature conditions.

There are various other types of xed bed reactors vvhich are used in high temperature service and are adapted to retain catalyst or other material for contacting a hydrocarbon fraction, or chemical reactant stream and for effecting conversion to a desired product. However, the usual reactor does not provide. as does the present improved form, both an internally lined and internally insulated chamber permitting radial flow of the reactant stream throughout the entire height of ther particle bed, With a resulting low pressure drop and increased use of the catalyst or other contacting material so that a maximum quantity of the material is contacted by the reactant stream. Also the present reactor is of advantage over the usual type of a reactor in that it provides both an internal metal or metal alloy liner and internal insulating material so that it is adapted to accommodate any high ternperature and high space velocity operation, as Well as high temperature hydrogen containing streams.

It is to be noted that carbon steel at high temperature conditions, say about 500 F., is permeable to hydrogen and it is necessary to utilize a suitable metal alloy for a liner in the reaction chamber in order to retain the hydrogen. Further, Where ordinary steel is subjected to the exposure of hydrogen for a long period of time, then less severe conditions of temperature and pressure may be critical and permit hydrogen attack and hydrogen permeation, as Well as metal corrosion from slightly corrosive iluid streams as may be charged to, or formed Within the reactor. A reactor embodyingl the construction and arrangement of the present invention may be used to particular advantage in catalytic hydrocarbon conversion operations such as dehydrogenation, reforming, hydroforming, hydrocracking, etc., Where there is necessarily maintained a hydrogen atmosphere at high temperature and high pressure conditions.

One object of the present invention is to provide an internally insulated and internally lined reactor suitable for use in the conversion of a reactant stream in the presence of hydrogen under hightemperature conditions.

Another object of the present inventionis to provide a reactor for high temperature processing having a substantially single-piece liner which is supported at one end thereof and adapted to hold catalyst or other subdivided material therein for contacting a reactant stream.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an internally lined and insulated reactor chamber having inlet and outlet means arranged to provide for the radial iiow of the reactant stream through a catalyst bed, as Well as means for readily removing the solid contacting material from the reactor chamber.

Briefly, the improved reactor of the present invention provides means for effecting contact between a 'reactant stream and a subdivided solid contacting material, and comprises in combination, an elongated outer chamber having an inlet opening or port at one end and an outlet opening or port at the opposite end thereof, an elongated open-ended liner supported Within the outer chamber and having one end sealed to the interior of one end of the outer chamber, a tubular section extending into the outer chamber from the opening opposite that having the liner sealed therewith, and the interior end of the tubular section forming a slip-fit with the unsealed open end of the liner whereby the lattermay expand and contract due to temperature changes, a refractory insulating material attached to the inside of the outer chamber and positioned around said liner in a manner providing for a slip-rit of the liner and a small annular space for the radial expansion thereof, and said refractory insulating material spaced a short distance from the unsealed end of the liner in a manner providing for the longitudinal expansion of the latter, a removable centrally positioned perforated fluid conduit means extending from the unsealed open end of the liner for substantially the full length of the interior thereof. longitudinal particle retaining screening positioned a short distance from the inside Wall of the liner and forming with the liner an unobstructed fluid space, and said longitudinal screening forming a screened Wall suitable for holding subdivided contact material in a bed between it and the centrally positioned fluid conduit means, whereby a reactant stream may flow radially through said contacting material and the resulting product stream may iiow to the outlet opening of the reactor chamber.

In a preferred construction and arrangement the inner alloy liner connects to and hangs from an upper port. Wall of a vertically disposed reactor chamber such that the catalyst or contacting ,material which is retained Within the liner is in effect suspended internally in the reactor chamber. Having the upper end of the liner connected to and sealed to the upper end of the outer vertical chamber also provides for the downward thermal expansion of the lower end of the liner within the insulated chamber, and permits the liner to move in the` same direction as its normal deflection' caused by thel weight'of the liner` and the contained catalyst.`

The centrally positioned iiuid conduit means may comprise one or more sections in a header' arrangement, however, a preferred embodiment of the reactor also provides that a` single perforate conduit or pipe be supported from the:

lower end of the liner in a slip-tr seat ar` rangement such that it may be pulled vertically out of the top opening or port offthel reactor chamber and permit catalyst particles tof'lowm by gravity down through a lower open end `of the inner liner and the lowerr openrendof the reactor chamber. This "pipe :is thusv constructed of a` s'riall'er'ciamete'r/than theV upper opening of the chamber in order to vpermit its withdrawal therefrom." rIhe perforatepipe also has its upper and;

interior endlclosedA sothatthe reactant stream passing' thereto is entirely collectedY orv distributed through a multiplicity "of small perforations or slots "spacedfthroighout the fullA length ofthe pipe and Vcircurnferentially around the pipe. This permits the reactant stream to flow evenly and laterally through the; entire height of the bed of contactingl materialbeing maintained within the'lin'er. The perforations or slots in the pipe are, of course, made ofa smaller size than the catalyst or contacting particles retained inthe chamber, so that' they'V will notfall into the in terior of the ii'uidpipe.;A T he stream iiow'through the contact bed maybe frointhev'outside radially towards the pipe, or alternatively from the pipe radiallyf'outward to the spacevv around the bed.

`"Still'anotherfeatureof the present improved reactor isthe use of a plurality of longitudinally curved strips of screening or a perforate material placedaround the interiorwof'the liner, to in turn ferm a fluid distributingorcollecting space, or a plurality'ofspacesfor the stream `which passes radially through the contact bed-,from the wall oftheV liner tothe fperfcrateconduit or pipe, vorV frm the latter to theliner walLrespectively.

The 'Y screening lr perforate members are 1 spacedV frein the line'rfcr;r are "curved'orfarched in a manner to hold the solidcontacting material away from vthe inner Vwallof theliner, 'and thus provide the desired `spaefor passingthe reactant`v stream adjacent the'wall of the liner, without restrictions and any further pressure drop.4 The plurality of curvedscreening sections are preferably removably held in placeat their edges by aplurality of vertical screen retaining: strips which are spaced around the insidel wall ofthe liner and weldedV orY otherwise iixedly` attached to VVthe liner.

may be noie@ that. ihe..0pefaii,r1.g, .pressure within thevlinerwill also be maintained between ip the outer shell and the liner. due toapressure equilibrium taking placeat the slip joint,rbetween the liner. and sleeve. However, therewillbe no actual ow Yof the reactant stream between theV liner and the insulatingmaterial because of the seal made between the liner and the chamber at thek upperend thereof. Further, since the liner does not accommodatea pressure differential, it may be made relativelythin, being only ofsuchthicknessas is necessary to carry its 4 weight and the weight of the catalyst held there 1n.

Additional features and advantages of the present improved reactor will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawing and the following description relating thereto.

Eigure lI o f the drawing is.A a sectional elevational drawing of one'en'ib,odiment`` of the improved lined and insulated'react'or.

Figure 2 of the drawing is a sectional plan view through the reactor, as indicated by the line 2--2 rodsl wire mesh, or the like, which in turn is welded or otherwise connected-te theA inside wall. ofY the chamber i. Theupper and lower ends of'- the chamber l; are also providediwithlsuitable flanges vinorder that-the reactor may be, conlisctd to inlet andbuileicoduits' inalrqcessirie. unit. 'In one arrangement, alower f langedgopenf' me 0r Por@ 3, provides. arlcdut'stream Outlet' from the. interior' reatior finden. upper Hanse,

provides` an inlet opening or port dior areactant stream passing tothe upper endj ofthe reactor.

Suspended within the interiorf of the reactor chamber l and within insulationZgisa metal liner 5,;which in turn is adapted tovretain particiilated catalystY or contact material andjA accommodate.

the flow of the reactant streamlwliichrcontacts the solid particles. The liner 51 isv preferably welded to the` upper end of'thechamber adjaf-V cent the lower end o/f'thetop flangellto` provide both a supporting connection and4 pressuretight' seal. This liner may alsofbe provided of an-al.

loy suitable to resist l'lydrogen"attaclafor` as in dicated hereinbefore, an irriprovedireactor of the present design may well-be'used' in a catalytic reforming operation, `or a ahydrocraclringw operation, where hydrogen is 1present athigh temperatureandhigh pressure; 'and .ordinarily causes;-

damage'to unprotectedv carbon steel;`

In the embodiment shown, the lower endof the liner 5y is tapered-"to conformi with the tapered lower endA of lthe reactor 'chamber i? but the liner is spaced above the lofwer end-ofthe chamberf and Y above "the refractory insulation 2 Vso thatA longitudinal expansion of ftheliner willglbe accom;- rncd'atedH without: 'tone' ng the refractory matef rial! 'A'tubularfexpansln'section or! sleevefs is welded-.lor isth'erwiserheid-lia piege-within the lower position of the liner-5 tc-fprovide-a vpassagewaywithithe interiorfofgtueremar11net. The lower end of the/tub'ular'rhember tis indicated as wardly into 'the reactorchamber a-"short distance from the, end Vof theiia'nge-andeopening3e sliding t between sleeves 6 and l per" its `the reactor-(liner 5: to expand vlfram its-upperffixed=end downwardly inV the lo-we1"y end Vof i the?- chamberunder the high temperatureoperating condi-tions,

while at the'same time Vproviding an-airial gelding means for retaining-the lower endl-of V:the liner inv proper position'.-A

'I'he upper end of the sleeve 6 is provided with a circumscribing band member 8, which extends a short distance above the sleeve 6 and provides a shoulder or bell-joint suitable for supporting an elongated centrally positioned fluid conduit 9.

' This conduit 9 is `provided with a multiplicity of perforations or small slots I3 throughout the entire length thereof in lorder that the reactant l -The slots or perforations I3 in the pipe 9 are also small enough to prevent the passage of the particles of catalyst or other contact material which is held in an annular shaped packed bed surrounding the pipe. A solid or non perforate plate I I covers the upper surface of the catalyst bed I9 and circumscribes the upper end of the pipe 9 in order that the latter is held in a substantially axial position within the reactor chamber. The plate II is, however, preferably unconnected to the pipe 9 so that the latter may be pulled vertically upwardly within the reactor chamber by way of the opening flange 4. A suitable bail or hole I2 in aplate is provided at the upper end of the conduit 9 for attaching a cable which may pull the pipe 9 upwardly and out of the support provided by the sleeve member 6 and ring e at the lower end of vpipe 9.1

aca-feriasl Vstream maybe uniformly collected, or distributed outwardly into the chamber in a convex or arched manner so that they readily-hold'the catalyst particlesawayfrom the insidewall of the liner 5. The edges of the screened members I4 are however, not xedly attached to the V-shaped strips I5, so that they may be removablyslid or sprung into place for either maintenance or replacement purposes. i i r r 4 Y Other suitable devices, however, may be used for removably holdingscreening means in position around the inside of the liner, and it is not intended to limit the `improved construction of the present reactor to only the illustrated means of placing the screening members in place. For example, cylindrical segments or an entire cylindrical screening member maybe spaced around It is a particular feature of the improved construction of this reactor to have the centrally positioned distributing conduit or pipe 9 removably supported at its lower end, in order to permit its being lifted and in turn allow the catalyst particles in bed I0 to flow by gravity downwardly through the sleeves 6 and l and out through the opening 3. Preferably catalyst particles are formed in small spheres or are pelleted in a relatively uniform size and shape that will not pack unduly, but will flow by gravity upon the removal or lifting of the pipe 9. Y

It is also a particular feature of the present improved reactor to provide a plurality of removable screening members I4 around and spaced from vthe inside periphery of the liner 5. The

screening members I4 may be made of perforated sheet metal, wire cloth, or heavy screening material which is suitable to hold the catalyst particles away from the wall of the liner 5 and thus provide a fluid of vapor space around the inside wall of the liner, and in this instance provide for the continuous distribution and radial flow of the reactant stream to the bed III-. The stream passing through the screening members I4 to the catalyst bed iiows laterally into conduit 9 and downwardly through the latter (as indicated by the arrows), through tubular section l and then out of the reactor through the lower outlet opening 3.

Reference to Figure 3 of the drawing indicates one embodiment for holding the plurality of removable screen members I4 in place and spaced from the liner 5. Each of the screening members I4 are elongated strips having a curved cross section so that they are long cylindrical segments. A plurality of V-shaped strips are welded or otherwise attached to the inner periphery of the liner 5 and spaced circumferentially around the liner to in turn provide retaining means holding the longitudinal and vertical edges of each of the screen members I4. Each of the latter is curved and away from the inside wall of the liner 5 by means of suitable spacer strips between the screen and the wall of liner 5, 'and thus provide a suitable unrestricted annular passageway.

In the operation of the embodimentillustrated a reactant stream enters the upper end of the reactor chamber I through inlet 4, to in turn enter the plurality of spaces I6. From the latter, the stream passes radially inwardly and essentially in a horizontal direction through the entire height of the catalyst bed I0. The contacted stream then passes through the plurality of holes or slots I3 into the central pipe 9, and thence downwardly through the latter to the outlet opening 3. Thus, the reactant stream flows in a continuous substantially annular path downwardly around the catalyst bed I0 and adjacent the inside wall of the liner member 5 prior to passing into theV bed I0. The reactor is however not limited to this iiow, for as indicated hereinbefore, the now may be from the central pipe outwardly radially 1 through bed I0 to the annular zones I6.

It is to be noted, that the operating pressure of the reactant stream will build up in the zone between the liner 5 and the outer chamber I, and within the refractory insulation 2, because of the nonpressure tight slip-joint between the lower end of the sleeve 6 and the upper end of sleeve 1. There is thus no need to design thexliner 5 to accommodate superatmospheric pressures, but only to consider the structural requirements for the weight of the liner and the catalyst it supports. On the other hand, the outer chamber I must'acco'mmodate the superatmoshperic pressure at which the reactor Will operate, but by reason of the insulation, the design strength of the chamber I may be based on the reduced temperature provided by the insulating material2. It is to be further noted that While the reactant stream builds up a pressure between the alloy liner' 5 and outer chamber I, there is no continuous flow of the reactant stream or any other iiuid in that zone'because of the welded pressure tight connection between the upper end of the liner 5 and the upper end of the shell I, from whence the liner is suspended. Thus, there is l no erosion or channeling taking place in the inciently low level that the steel of the outer Chamber will not be attacked or unduly corroded. On the other hand. the liner which may be subjected to contact with a hydrogen containing stream at high temperature and high pressure conditionsi will be necessarily formed of a metal or an alloy which is resistant to hydrogen attack,

as hereinbefore noted. i

I claim as my invention:

l. A reactor for effecting contact between a reactant stream and subdivided solid contact material, which comprises. in combination, an elongated outer chamber having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the opposite end thereof, an elongated open-ended liner supported within said outer chamber and having one end thereof sealed to one end of said chamber, a tubular section extending into said chamber from the opening opposite. that which has said liner sealed therewith, andy the interior end of said tubular section forming a -slip-iit -with the vunsealed `openeend cfAsaid-liner whereby the latter may-expand and contact in said chamber with temporaimirev changes i therein, a refractory insulating material attached to the inside of said outer chamber and positioned concentrically around said liner in a lmanner providing a small annular-space for-radial expansion and a slip-rit therewith,l said refractory insulation spaced a short distance from the unsealed end of said liner and thereby vproviding for the 'longitudinal ex-y pansion of the latter within the insulated outer chamber, perforate yiluid conduit means extending interiorly-from onevend of said liner for substantiaily thefuli length of the interior thereof, longitudinal particle vretaining screeningV positioned a short distance from the vinside wall of said liner and forming with the' latter an unobstructed iluidspace,A and said longitudinal screening forming a screened wall suitable for holding subdivided contact-material in ka bed lbetween it and said fluid conduit means, whereby a reactant stream may flow radially through said contact material, and-a resulting 'product stream may flow to the outlet opening of 'said reactor chamber.

2. The reactor of claim v 1 4further characterized in that said 'longitudinal Ascreening comprises a plurality of removable elongated curved segments positioned in aside by side relationship around the inner periphery of said liner and a plurality of spaced longitudinal screen-retaining strips are attached to the inside rwall of said liner, 4whereby said plurality of screen segments may be slipped into place therebetween and ,removably held in -said -side-by-s'ide relationship r around the inside of said liner and provide saldunobstruct ed uid space.

3. A reactor adapted for contacting a reactant stream with subdivided Solid contact material, which comprises in combination, an elongated vertically disposed outer chamber having a iluid port at the lower end thereof and a fluid port at the upper end thereof, an elongated metallic liner suspended within said outer chamber and having its upper end sealed to the interior of said chamber, with said liner having an upper port communicating with said upper chamber port, a lower tubular section extending a short distance upwardly into said reactor from said lower chamber port, a tubular expansion section yConnecting to and extending downwardly from the lower end of said liner providing a port thereto, said expansion section forming a slip-lit with said lower tubular section whereby said liner may expand and contract with temperaturechanges. a refractory insulating material attached to the I1 side of said outer chamber and positioned around said liner in a manner providing a slipslt therewith, and said refractory insulating material spaced a short distance from the lower end of said liner in a manner providing for the longitudinal expansion of the latter from said upper end, a centrally positioned perforate iluid conduit supported` by and extending vertically upward from said expansion section at Ythe vlower end of said liner, said fluid conduit extending for substantially the full length of said liner and having a closed upper end, longitudinal particle retaining screening positioned a short distance from the inside wall of said liner and forming with the liner a vertically unobstructed lud space, said longitudinal screening forming a vertically screened wall suitable for holding contact maiterial in a bed between it and said centrally positioned huid conduit and thereby providing for the radial flow of the reactant stream through said contact material for the full height thereof.

4. The reactor' of claim 3 further characterizedv in that said centrally positioned fluid conduit is' of lesser diameter than said upper chamber port and is removably supported from said expansion section at the lower end of said liner, whereby said fluid conduit may be Vpulled from the interior of said liner, and conta-ct material maintained within said liner may flow by gravity from the lower end thereof through said tubularsections and said lower uid port.

HOWARD J. NEBECK.

No references cited. 

1. A REACTOR FOR EFFECTING CONTACT BETWEEN A REACTANT STREAM AND SUB DIVIDED SOLID CONTACT MATERIAL, WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED OUTER CHAMBER HAVING AN INLET OPENING AT ONE END AND AN OUTLET OPENING AT THE OPPPOSITE END THEREOF, AN ELONGATED OPEN-ENDED LINER SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID OUTER CHAMBER AND HAVING ONE END THEREOF SEALED TO ONE END OF SAID CHAMBER FROM TUBULAR SECTION EXTENDING INTO SAID CHAMBER FROM THE OPENING OPPPOSITE THAT WHICH HAS SAID LINER SEALED THEREWITH, AND THE INTERIOR END OF SAID TUBULAR SECTION FORMING A SLIP-FIT WITH THE UNSEALED OPEN-END OF SAID LINER WHEREBY THE LATTER MAY EXPAND AND CONTACT IN SAID CHAMBER WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGES THEREIN, A REFRACTORY INSULATING MATERIAL ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE OF SAID OUTER CHAMBER AND POSITIONED CONCENTRICALLY AROUND SAID LINER IN A MANNER PROVIDING A SMALL ANNULAR SPACE FOR RADIAL EXPANSION AND A SLIP-FIT THEREWITH, SAID REFRACTORY INSULATION SPACED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE UNSEALED END OF SAID LINER AND THEREBY PROVIDING FOR THE LONGITUDINAL EXPANSION OF THE LATTER WITHIN THE INSULATED OUTER CHAMBER, PERFORATE FLUID CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING INTERIORLY FROM ONE END OF SAID LINER FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF THE INTERIOR THEREOF, LONGITUDINAL PARTICLE RETAINING SCREENING POSITIONED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE INSIDE WALL OF SAID LINER AND FORMING WITH THE LATTER AN UNOBSTRUCTED FLUID SPACE, AND SAID LONGITUDINAL SCREENING FORMING A SCREENED WALL SUITABLE FOR HOLDING SUBDIVIDED CONTACT MATERIAL IN A BED BETWEEN IT AND SAID FLUID CONDUIT MEANS, WHEREBY A REACTANT STREAM MAY FLOW RADIALLY THROUGH SAID CONTACT MATERIAL, AND A RESULTING PRODUCT STREAM MAY FLOW TO THE OUTLET OPENING OF SAID REATOR CHAMBER. 